The Big 4: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax

What are your views on these bands and which one is your favorite?
Mine is Anthrax

There is probably 30 threads on each of these bands on the board. The search function is a wonderful thing.

Well I'm new on here, so ya know, thanks

Welcome! I just wanted to point out the plethora of threads on the subject already in existence.

To answer your question my favorite is Slayer and they are really the only Big 4 band I still listen to on any kind of semi-regular basis.

All 4 bands released amazing albums and they have my respect for that but also a lot of smurf poo. ANTHRAX, METALLICA and SLAYER released more than two smurf poo album only MEGADETH made one with RISK, thats why i will say MEGADETH. To be honest i prefere bands like SODOM, or TANKARD that stayed loyal to thrash and real metal forever.

Slayer>Anthrax>Metallica>Megadeth

MEGADETH>SLAYER>METALLICA>ANTHRAX

METALLICA>MEGADETH>ANTHRAX> ........ >slayer

ANTHRAX>MEGADETH>METALLICA>SLAYER

I like them all, but Anthrax is probably my favorite, though I probably listen to both Megadeth and Anthrax about the same.

I've seen Megadeth in concert about 8 or 9x. Anthrax 4x. Slayer twice. I've never seen Metallica.

Megadeth>Anthrax>Metallica>Slayer...

I would have to say that Megadeth is my favorite, only because I am not a fan of the John Bush era Anthrax and I like everything that Megadeth has done. Yes, I think that there are a few good songs on Risk, but it does not have the consistency of the other outings by the band.

The Black album was my introduction to metal and for that alone, this album has a very special place in my heart. I like most Metallica albums but I tend to go against the grain with albums like S&M or Justice.

Ah, Slayer, and on this board I definitely in the minority here. Simply put, I am not a fan.

Megadeth > Anthrax > Slayer > Metallica

Megadeth is my favorite by far, I like pretty much everything they've done. The other three, I like some albums, but not all. Anthrax would probably be my second favorite.

My view is all these bands played thrash and Dave is a monster guitar player. Megadave that is.

Metallica=Megadeth>Slayer>Anthrax

To me that Depends on how many good albums they made, here's how I'd rank them

1 Megadeth (the most consistent by far, barring the atrocity that is "Risk")

2 Metallica (Early stuff was good up to 91)

3 Slayer (see above, but theire 2000's effort were a bit redundant)

4 Anthrax (Among the living, Persistence of time...the rest...meh)



edit : The 5th spot goes to TESTAMENT

Quote :

(Among the living, Persistence of time...the rest...meh)

You don't like Sound of White Noise?

Dark Horseman wrote:

Quote :

(Among the living, Persistence of time...the rest...meh)

You don't like Sound of White Noise?

I don't like bush...I prefer 'em shaved

Bah duh dum.

I listen to these bands all the time. The Big 4 rule!

Metallica>Megadeth>Slayer>Anthrax

Love all 4 bands really. I know that the concept of a "Big 4" annoys some fans but I like it. Every band represents a different style of thrash (Anthrax are more punk influenced, Megadeth are the more technical band etc.) and listening to them would be an ass-kicking intoduction to thrash metal for anyone.

Of course the "Big 4" is best seen as that IMO; 4 great bands that are a taster of the music thrash has to offer. One of the biggest appeals of the genre is it's depth and it's diversity and I understand how it can be limiting to have a "Big 4" put ahead of the pack.

If I was trapped on a desert island and only had 4 cds, I'd make sure they were the first 4 Metallica cds.

Having said that, I believe that the big 4 concept is quite dated now. I'd rather listen to Overkill's Electric Age, than any of the latest releases from any of the "big 4". The big 4 concept appears to have related to a time when all 4 bands were marketed as major pioneers of thrash - i.e. "The Big Four of Thrash"

Are they the four most popular bands in the thrash genre? History (record sales) obviously shows that the answer here would have to be a resounding yes. But it would seem that Anthrax, Megadeth and Metallica went through periods in the 1990's onwards of playing albums that contained music with little of the thrash sounds that had made them so enjoyable to thrash fans in those early times - though, they would have won over many new (non thrash) fans in the process. Albums such as Stomp 442, Load, Reload, Cryptic Writings and Risk had transitioned a fair way from the thrash sounds found on earlier releases such as Peace Sells, Master of Puppets, Among the Living and Reign in Blood. Slayer is possibly the sole exception here, though Megadeth appear to have been on a journey with a more accessible thrash sound mixed in with heavy metal with every release since The System Has Failed.

These days, if I was looking for long standing discographies that have been more consistantly thrash orientated, I'd go with Overkill, Testament, Exodus, Nuclear Assault, Sodom, Tankard and maybe Kreator (sans Endorama).

Hope this post makes sense and is not too rubbishy. It's just my opinion and I am recovering from surgery. Anesthetic messes with my head!

All of them released legendary albums. It's really hard to rank these bands. I'll just say that I enjoy each of them for what they offer, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would definitely be Megadeth.

I enjoy all 4. With the exception of Anthrax, the other 3 have released a couple of clunkers over the years that I didn't care for, but I still listen to them all.

Nope, wrong. Stomp was a dud.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Nope, wrong. Stomp was a dud.

I remember not caring much for it when I got it as a new release, but it's grown on me. It's not a favorite or anything, but I'd take that over Risk, Diabolus in Musica or either Load album anyday.